Page 96 of Wrecking Boundaries

This is interesting. “Who? We aren’t meeting with anyone until next week.”

“Your boss.”

“Bert?” A chill goes through me.

“From what you’ve shared, there are decent odds he’ll go for it. His financials work for a smaller endeavor but not anything ofBP Racing’ssize. Fronting you with a slower growth model, he can manage that. Plus, you two have more than a decade of history. It makes sense.”

After the rumors started, Bert clarified how unwanted any retirement would be. Some men might relish fishing at a quiet lake. Bert would spend that time longing for the roar of forty engines. This could give him another chance. I could finally repay him for what he did for me and my family all those years ago.

“Jake?” Sarah grabs my chin. “If you don’t like the idea, wecan keep working.”

“No, it’s not that. It’s perfect. It makes perfect sense. I’ll talk to him next week.”

“Not like that; this isn’t a casual suggestion.” Sarah shakes her head and leans in towards me. “We’ll arrange a meeting and propose it like a business offer. From what you’ve said, Bert isn’t in a great place. He’s losing what he loves. Come to him like he’d be coming to your rescue again. Let him help you and keep some of his pride.”

“I don’t want to work for him again.”

“You won’t. I’ll be there to manage it for you. I’ll be a minority partner, which makes sense since I contribute the least. You’ll have the largest share.”

Bert’s driving days are gone, but his skill and experience are as strong as ever. “He can do spotter duty or help manage crews or handle sponsors.”

“Well, good, because we’ll be doing everything on the cheap.”

“You’re amazing,” I tell her. “A fucking genius.”

Her brother accused me of using her to further my ambitions, and if he could see the two of us right now, it would lend some weight to his accusation. Dammit, I don’t care. Sarah is the most brilliant person I’ve ever met, and she loves me.

“I’m good at solving problems,” Sarah says, like it’s nothing at all.

“You fixed up your friend and brother. Built your life like you want. You helped my sister and helped me. That’s not solving problems. You’re in serious genius territory.”

Sarah’s cheeks redden. “You can thank me by makingdinner while I lay here with my feet up.”

I glance at the shirtless pirate on her book’s cover. “That’s a deal. You read, and I’ll cook.”

34-Jake

“Maddie texted. She’s coming to watch the race with me.” Sarah nearly bounces with excitement. “It’s my turn to be the host.”

It’s her first time staying with me, and she’s already suggesting the trailer is hers, and I love it. “Could you come to the race’s start with me first?”

The bouncing stops, and her enthusiasm disappears. “By your team?”

Where else? “Other drivers get to have their families nearby for race starts all the time; it would be nice to have you with me. We aren’t hiding anymore.”

“You’ll be there?”

I can resist trying to make out in public. It will be enough to hold hands. “The entire time. It’s finally a chance to meet my pit crew. They’re an incredible group of guys; you’ll like them. Bert is around, too.”

“I’ve met him before,” she says. Her voice straightens as she goes on. “It makes sense for me to be there. Let’s go,” she says and tightly grips my hand.

I release it and tilt her chin up. I’m not sure what I’m looking for. “Is something wrong? Well, something new.”

“General nerves,” she says.

Considering the last several days, that shouldn’t be a surprise. She deserves to have everything fixed now. Instead, it will need to wait.

“You’ll be next to me the entire time. I won’t leave you,” I say, hoping the reference to my earlier promise relaxes her a little. “Let’s go.”

---